North Carolina State softball head coach Lindsay Leftwich announced the addition of Riley Frizell as the program’s new assistant coach on Monday. Frizell spent the last two seasons on the Plains in Auburn, Ala., as a graduate manager who assisted with hitting, infield work and catching.
“I’m beyond excited and incredibly grateful to be joining the NC State softball coaching staff! It’s an honor to become part of such a respected program,” Frizell said via NC State release. “I can’t wait to get to work with an amazing staff and group of student-athletes, continue growing in this game I love and represent the Wolfpack with pride. I am so excited for this next chapter. Go Pack!”
Frizell fills the vacancy left by Grayson Radcliffe, who took an assistant coach position on Marissa Young’s staff at Duke. She will work specifically with the infield, assisting the offense, camps and community relations.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Riley Frizell to the Wolfpack family. Riley immediately elevates the people around her with infectious energy and an incredible passion for developing student-athletes,” said Leftwich via NC State press release.
“As a player, Riley excelled at the highest levels of our sport, helping Missouri reach three consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including a Super Regional, before finishing her career at Louisville as an NFCA All-Region and All-ACC performer. She then continued her growth as a coach at Auburn, gaining valuable experience within another elite program. Having competed and coached in two of the nation’s premier softball conferences, she brings a wealth of experience, perspective and championship standards to our program. More importantly, Riley is an exceptional relationship builder who loves investing in people. Her enthusiasm is contagious, her work ethic is relentless, and her commitment to helping young women reach their full potential aligns perfectly with who we are at NC State.”
During the 2026 season, NC State finished 27-26 and reached the ACC tournament for the first time since 2022. The Wolfpack offense fueled much of that turnaround, hitting .293 as a team with a .393 on-base percentage and a .465 slugging mark across 53 games. NC State collected 388 hits and scored 283 runs while connecting for 52 home runs, 63 doubles and 4 triples. The lineup also drove in 259 runs, drew 186 walks and stole 57 bases.
